Journal Sentinel sportswriter Charles F. Gardner and former Milwaukee Rampage coach Boro Sucevic at Highbury Pub in Bay View discuss the U.S. draw with Portugal, the Germany match on Thursday and Group G.

One of the first things Miguel Herrera did when he became Mexico's fourth coach in a year was call Rafael Marquez and ask the 35-year-old defender known as "the boss" to return to the national side as captain.

On Monday, the world saw why.

Marquez's pivotal goal from a header in the 72nd minute ignited a scoring burst, and Mexico surged into the World Cup's knockout stage for a sixth straight time with a 3-1 triumph over Croatia in Recife, Brazil.

"I did not hesitate one minute after my talk with him to appoint him captain," Herrera said of Marquez, now in his fourth World Cup. "He's had many achievements in his career, personally, but he's also provided leadership to the team."

Marquez, Andres Guardado and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored in a 10-minute span in the second half, dooming a talented Croatia side to elimination from the group stage.

The Croats had to win to advance and held the bulk of possession, but had trouble seriously threatening goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who kept out all efforts until an 87th-minute consolation goal from Ivan Perisic.

The result gave Mexico a second-place finish behind Brazil in Group A and set up a second-round meeting with Group B winner the Netherlands.

Fred and Fernandinho added second-half goals for Brazil, which will face South American rival Chile in the second round.

Neymar netted twice in the first half, on either side of midfielder Joel Matip's goal for Cameroon in the 26th minute.

Playing in its 100th World Cup match, Brazil has now advanced to the second round in every tournament since 1970.

Netherlands 2, Chile 0: Leroy Fer scored a minute after coming on as a substitute to lead the Netherlands.

The third straight victory clinched first place in Group B for the Netherlands.

Fer had just replaced Wesley Sneijder when he rose almost unmarked in the Chile penalty area to put the Dutch ahead with a powerful 77th-minute header. Another substitute, Memphis Depay, then tapped in a cross from Arjen Robben in injury time to double the lead in Sao Paulo.

Both teams had already advanced to the second round, but Chile's first loss of the tournament consigned it to second place in Group B.

Spain 3, Australia 0: Defending champion Spain salvaged some World Cup pride with a convincing victory over Australia in its last match at the tournament.

After losing their previous matches in Group B to the Netherlands and Chile, both teams took to Arena da Baixada in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba knowing they could not advance to the second round.

David Villa, on his 97th and final international appearance, put Spain ahead in the 36th minute. Fernando Torres and Juan Mata also scored.